Combatting Droughts in Australia.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1921, Page 1

Combatting Droughts in Australia.

SYDNEY, June 29

The Press raises no voice against the proposals of the Government to restrict in some measure the terrors of drought, which has been foreshadowed during tho past week, except to insist that whatever is done shall he self-fin-ancing, or that adequate provision be made for the repayment of whatever assistance is given out of the exchequer. The scheme is termed one for drought insurance. In the sense of complete indemnification against loss it is not, of course, insurance. Anything of such a nature would he obviously impracticable. Drought is a stupendous calamity. The most that can ho done is to mitigate its conseqences, and that is exactly what is aimed at. Even the men who most flagrantly neglect such provision agree that fodder conservation is essential, but for various reasons individual effort in this direction is rare, and when tho gamble on nature results adversely, stock perish by thousands for want of it. It is estimated that in this state alone 10,000,000 sheep died during the last drought. To put into practice a principle which has been acknowledged and neglected for years it is proposed to create a Board under whiefi the State will he divided into a dozen districts, each with a local committee. These will establish storage depots which farmers will b 0 encouraged to supply at not below a guaranteed rate. Tn time of drought the foddei will he retailed at cost price, plus overhead charges and a certain rate of profit which will aim at making the scheme self-supporting in five years. In . the meantime the Government will jointly finance th 0 . scheme by £ for £ on bonds which will he issued, the total amount required being placed .at £5.000,000. There is some suggestion that the southern districts of Queensland may co-operate in tho scheme.